Car dumper



Feb. 23, 1 932. R w, KALTENBACH 1,846,970

CAR DUMPER Filed Aug. 14, 1929 8 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 23., 1932. R. W KALTEN'BACH 1,846,970

GAR DUMP ER Filed Aug. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23, 1932. la4 w. KALTl-:NBACH 1,846,970

A CARDUMPER Filed Aug. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Shee't 3 vlHeb. 23, 1.932. R. w. KALTENBACH 1,846,970

S14/vento@ Feb. 23, 1932.

R. w. KALTENBACH CAR DUMP ER FiledAqg. 14, 1929 a sheets-sheet 5 Feb. 23, 1932. R. w, KALTx-:NBACH -l;846,970

CAR DUMPER Filed Aug. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FB. 23, 1932. R. w. 'KALTENBACHA- ,1,845,970

, CAR DUMPER Filed Aug. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Feb. 23, 1932. R. w. KALTENBACH 1,846,970

GAR DUMPER Filed Aug. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Feb. 23, 1932 Ronnnrw. K ALTENBACE, or' onnvnnnnn Hnienrs, onro CAB. nuirenn Application led August 14, 1929.47Seria1`No.V 385,736.

This invention relates'to car dumpers and particularly to those which have a cradle into which thecar is shunted and which -isspro-V vided with .suitable mechanism for clamping 5 the car onto the tracks during the dumping operation. With apparatus which has been used heretofore,a car enters the cradle, and is movedl laterallyduring the initial movement of the cradle. The lateral movement is continued until the car strikes wooden buffer blocks which heretofore have been bolted or otherwise aixed to the side of the cradle,

and which function to absorb mostoif .the weight of the car when the car has been turned on its side'duringthe emptying operation. After the dumping operation-is completed, the final motion of the cradle is accom.- panied by a lateral movement of the car out of Contact with the buii'er blocks until the tracks on' which the car is mounted are'in alignment with the approach and run-olf tracks respectively.

To effect such lateral movement of the car in the cradle, the practice has been to utilize a platen onwhich the car is placed and to mount the platen rollers which are arranged to move in trackways extending transversely of thev cradle. On large installations, the weight of the platen is about 26,000 pounds, which is usually counterweightedl by a like amount. Thus, it is apparent that consider'- able power must be expended to move the platen and the car. VApart from thisconsideration, attention must be given at frequent intervals to the ycondition of the platen, as wear of the operating parts causes mis-align ment of the tracks. Furthermore, engagement of the car with the buer blocks, fproduces anvimpact of considerable Jforce that wears the blocks quickly and tends toy damage the car. In addition, it produces tremendous working stresses, which necessitate `the use of heavy structural members towithstand theV weight oi' the platen, .and the platen-counterweight, as well asthe mechanism for, moving the platen and the car toward the side of the cradleduring thefdumpingoperation,

and for returning it aitersuohoperation is 155 completed. Furthermore, by eliminating thev necessity for moving this exorbitant weight of material, I can complete the dumpingoperation in a shorter period of time andata material reduction in power consumption. Thus, other conditions beingI equal, .I can increase the capacity of a given dumper for a definite unit .ofrtime, and shorten the period of time during which a barge` or boatmust remain V)idle during the loading operation.

Iy carry out the above objects by maintaining the car supporting tracks in stationary position fupon the cradle, and by moving the buffervblocks toward the car during the initial Vmovement of the cradle untily they engage the car. Thereafter, in oneform of my invention I use Vthe force .y exerted by;` the counterweights to maintain ythe V'blocks in engagement with the side of the car. Several Vdiiere'nt forms of mechanism maybe utilized for 4causing such lateral movement of the buffers, as I have illustrated in the drawings,..and have pointed out in the following description. Y i Y.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a car, dumping apparatus embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar elef vation showing the cradlein dumping position; Fig.l 3 is a vertical section showing on 85 an enlarged scale. the buffer blockoperating mechanism; F igJlis a view ofthebuifer block operatingmechanism; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a cradle having a modiiication of my invention and Fig. 6 is asimilar T96 illustration showing the blocks 4in contact with the car, Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on a plane indicated by the line 7 7 in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of cables-which are used 95 in connection with the operation of thevbuffer K blocks, illustrated in Fig. 4; Figs. 9, 10, and llare sections taken onthe correspondingly 'numbered` lines in Fig. 4, Fig. l1 being on u, an enlarged scale; Fig.l2 is an end view of 17 is a vertical section through a cradle showing another modified form of buffer operat ing mechanism, and Figs. -18 'and 19 f are views of dierent forms of motive power for operatingthe buffer blocks shown in Fig. 17. -V'R'eferring now to thefform of apparatus illustratedy in Figl, 10 indicates a cradle, 11 trackscarriedthereby,and 12 a car which is supported .upon the tracks. "A frame for supportingthe eounterweights and providing a "guideway for the cradle is illustrated in general at 15, while a'hoisting drum is shown in general at 16 adjacent the base of the frame. I-Ioisting cables 17 lead yfrom the drum over Vsuitable sheaves on the frame and cradle to eect a raisingfand lowering of the cradle `in the usual way. j

Theppresent invention is concerned with the provision of m'eansfor engaging lthe side ofthe car and for supporting it as t-hecar isturned. Theapparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 Vcomprises means for moving buffer blocks 20 from the-full lineposition 4indicated in Fig. 31 tothe broken line position 20a in Fig. 2. In'the full line position, the buffers are out of contact with the car to a sufficient eX- 'tent to permit the car to be moved'ronto and faway from theoradle. `This position repre- -sents the: normal or'"rest position of the cradle. .The apparatus for moving the buffers into contact -with the car is arranged to function during the initial movement of the dumping operation, and'prefer'ably to 'eliect contact before the clamps 21 engage the .top

fof the car. Y 'To insure-engagement of thebuli'ers uniformly Y with vthe car, I'prefer to provide 'a lpair of` buffers to each clamp and tospace the Abuffers at 'equal distances from the een.- terlline yofthe clamp. v This is shown par.-

ticularly in Fig. 4,w-here-the clamp :chain -islindicated at '22 as'passing downwardly in the usual manner along the rear central part lofthe clamp. The upper end ofthe chain isv attached to a cable 22, which -leads foverithe sheaves 23 and 24 at the upperpart Aofthe frame .and Vis attached to a counter- -weight 25; The clamp end of the chain is lshown as being attached to a cross bar 18 'which extends horizontally in back ofthe clamp. The ends of the cross bar are connected tocamf-blocks 26 which Vare arranged to move vertically inl guide ways 27. I-nlthc preferred form, -there fare 'two 2pairs oficam blocks, one pair being disposed above the crossbar, andthe otherpair below the bar, as is illustrated in Fig. 4. The guides for the blocks may comprise 2 bars, which are attached to the sidewall of the cradle. The preferred manner of connecting the cross bar to the cam blocks embodies pvot -pins 28 which extendlthrough. ears r29- that. depend from the upper blocks.

Y To assureequalization of pressure against the :buffer 'blocls,*l' provi-de -atleXible connection between the cro-ss bar and the lower set of 'cam blocks. This may be accomplished by utilizinga tube. 30 which houses a spring 31 and provides an abutment for the lower end thereof. A. washer 32 provides an abutment yfor the upper rend'of the spring.- :A nut 33 bears against the washer and s threaded onto a ro'd 34 which extends, through. the loweri block and is pivotally connected thereto -at "35. A link 36 'connects the tube to the pin 28. Viththis'arrangement, all vof the cam blocks are caused to vmove upwardly under. the action of the counterweight 25 and t'o'eXert pressureuuniformly against the buffer blocks. T'o'this. end theforward faces 40 of the cam blocks are shown as being inclined surfaces,which bear. against similarly inclined rear faces 41 of the buer blocks.

Provision is made for causing lateral motion of the buffers towardthe car as the cam blocks'areanoved upwardly. To accom-V plish this the blocks are'rigidfly mounted between -beams 42 which are-preferably .channel members arranged4r back toback, and which extend leng'fthwise' of the block'sfand engage the side walls 43 of theicam blocks.

These beams therefore provide guides for lateral movement of the buffers while they are being shifted into engagement withthe car. To prevent the buffer units from movingvertic'ally simultaneously fwith' the cam members, I have'shown rollers 45 and 46 which are journalled 'in the buer beams'adjacent the lower end thereofyandfwhich' are adaptedv to be disposed respectively' above and below the cross beam 47. The cross beam in turn is rigidly mounted onfthe cradle, and is shown in Fig-1 as being disposed adjacent the upper part of the horizontal portion thereof.

VWhen the-cradleis in thenormal position, as shown in Fig. 1, the cam'blocks are'held in the lowermost position and the buffers are held away from the car. One method of accomplishing this isto utilize bell `cranks each of which is pivotally mounted at 51 tothe horizontal lpart ofthe cradle, and adjacent the bottom partA thereof. One arm of 'the bell crank is adapted to' be` connected,

as by Va linkf2, 'and rod 53, to' the cross bar 18, directly beneathand-in line with the clamp ichain.V Thefotherendof the -bell crank 'is shown r as I:having roller 54 which fis adapted toengage'ia pillowl-block\55,fwhieh in turn, is rigidly mounted on the base 56 of the frame structure. The con-tour of the roller contacting face of the pillowblock isV such thatthe bell crank is permitted tomove slowly with reference to the cradle during the initial period of the dumping operation? In Fig. 3, the cradle is at rest, and in such position the roller 54 is at the left handr end of the block. In Fig. 2,V the cradleis shown in broken lines 10a as having been raised to the extent that the bell crankv roller is in engagement with the right hand end ofthe pillow block. Y i

Since the bell cranks are carried by the cradle, and since the weight of -thecradle is greater than that ofthe counterweight, it is apparent that the bell cranks will be held in the position sho-wn in Fig. 3 so long as the cradle is in the rest positionp Asthebell cranks move however, they permit the clamp counterweights to raise the cam blocks, which in turn force the buifers toward the car.` The size of the operating parts and the clearance limits are such that the buffersare brought into .contact with the side of the car before the bell cranks reach the limit of their movement.

To permit lateral movement of the buffers toward the car, during the raising operation, and to insure withdrawal Atoward the cam block during the lowering operation, l have shown a cable 57, one end of which is pivctallyV connected at 58 to the arm 59 of the bell crank, and the other end of which extends aroundand is rigidly 'connected to a sheave 60. Such sheave is shown in Fig. 8 as being rigidly lmounted on and adjacent the midportion o the shaft 6l, which in turn is journalled in the cradle and in back of the lower set of buffer blocks. This shaft also. has sheaves 62 and 63 rigidly mounted thereon and adjacent the ends thereof. Cables 64 have one end thereof rigidly connected to the sheaves 62, and after passing around the sheaves extend laterally and are attached at the opposite ends to the lower buffer blocks. Gther cables 65 are rigidly connected to the sheaves 63 and after passing therearound, extend upwardly and over guide vsheaves 66, and are then connected to the upper set of buffer bloc rs. The guide sheaves may be journalled on a shaft 67 which is also mounted on the cradle in back of the upper set of blocks as is illustrated `in Figs. 3 and 8. lith this arrangement, the buffer blocks are pulled toward the 'cam blocks while the bell crank roller moves along the curved surface of the pillow block during the lowering operation. eration the cab-les permit the buffer blocks to be forced against the car.

It is apparent from the foregoing description, thatt-he movement of the buffer block s takes place independently of thet movement 'of the associated Yclamps 70. There,- are Conversely, during the raising op- 1 usually four of such clamps, and each is arranged to be slidably 'mountedinthe side 'wall ofthe cradle direct-ly infrontfofthe .ca-used to move vertically as soon as the car is brought into Contact therewith. The

clamp chains then function in the usual way i to hold the clamps into contact with the top of the car during the inverting operation. n Fig. 2 the inverted position of the car and cradle is shown in the full lines.

guiding'means embodies beams 7 9 which eX tend lengthwise and outside of the buffer blocks. A crossbeam 80 connects each set of beams 79, and provides al support for the pivot connection 8l`with the lower end ofthe clamp chain82. In the rest position the ,buffer block beams and the clamp 83 rest upon an abutment Sflwhich extends upwardly from the base and straddles the clamp chain.

ln such -rest position, as shown in Figf, the builerblocks and the clamps are out of contact with the car.

YTo eiiect movement of the blocks toward l the car during the raising operation, l have shown each clamp chain as extending downwardly beneath the' associated block` and as passing around a. sheave 85, the shaft 86 of which is journalled in part ofthe cradle. rlhus, as the cradlemoves upwardly with the cam blocks 75, lthe buffer blocks are held against upward movement by the action of the counterweights acting upon the chains 82 until the blocks engage the car. Thereupon, the buffer block cross beam 80 leaves the abutment and the Abuffer blocks move upwardly as av unit with the cradle. `During the lateral movement of the buffer blocks toward and away from the car, the bui'erblock beams are moved across the abutments on the rollers 87.

Another modification of my invention is i shown in Fig. l2 whereink bell cranks 90 are pivotally mounted at 91 to the cradle, and

are connected at 92 on one end to t-he buffer i beams are shown as having a roller 99 at the bottom thereof which rests uponan abutment-100;when the. cradle is in the rest. position. Y

Y InFig. 12, the rest position illustrates the buffers as being out of'contact with the car while Fig. 13 illustrates the block as being in engagement with the car at the time when the rollers 99 are about to leave the abutment 100. p

Figs. 14 and 15 indicate another modification of my invention, wherein a reversible electric motor 110 is mounted on the cradle and is utili-Zed for` moving the buffer blocks 111 in guideways 112 toward and away from the car. To this end, the armature shaft of the motor is directly connected to a worm shaft 113 which carries a worm 114, adjacent each set of buffer blocks. Vorm wheels 115 and 116 are arranged to be driven by each Worm, and are rotatably mounted on shafts 117 and 118 respectively.' Suchxshafts are then connected to the wheels preferably by a friction coupling. Gne form of such coupling, as shown in Fig. 16, comprises an annular ring 119 which engages a complementary shaped groove in a. wheel 120. This last named wheel in turn is fixed to the shaft. rlhe friction ring may be adjusted laterally by set screws 121, and thus the motor is connected to the shafts 117 `and 118 by a friction drive; Hence, the buffer blocks move into contact with the car and exert uniform pressure thereagainst, notwithstanding irregularities in the surface ofthe side of the car. Moreover, the friction connection prevents overloading ofthe motor when the buffers engage the car.

In View of theforegoing description, it is apparent that I-have provided a novel means of automatically effecting side contact with the car ywithout necessitating the use of a platen upon which the car rests, and which is intended to be moved laterally on the cradle. I have shown different ways in which this result can be accomplished and have hereinafter pointed o-ut the essential characteristics in the appended claims.

`'Io connect the vshafts 117 and 118 to the buffer blocks, VI have shown each shaft as carrying a pinion122 which meshes with a gear 123'on a threaded shaft 124. Such last named shaft is fixed to the buffer block.' It is obvious that this arrangement will cause lateral motion of the blocks toward the car and will serve to lock the block in such position.

Fig. 17 'shows another modification of my invention wherein an relectric motor V130, mounted on the cradle, drivesa worm 131, which in turn operates a worm wheel 132.

Such wormwheel comprises the ring gear of a differential, indicated in general at 133. The differentialy actuates a `shaft134 which extends upwardly to operate the' upper buufer'. bloclnfand4 another :shaft v135 which extends downwardly to operate the lower bulf-` er block. Each of the last namedv shafts carries a pinion 136V which is arranged to mesh` with ak rack 137. These racks are then fastened to the buffer blocks 138, which are arrangedto V move laterally in guideways in the same manner as that illustrated and explained in connection with Fig. 14.

Fig. 18shows a different form of motive power. for operating the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 17. In such illustration, like parts carry the same reference characters, while the shaft, on which the worm 131 is carried, is indicated atV 139. Such shaft carries apinion 140 vwhich meshes with a ver-l tically extending rack `141. The lower end of the `rachis weighted as at 142, and is intended normally to be in engagement with an abutment 143 when the cradle is in the normal rest position. When the cradle is raised, theaction of gravity holds ther-ack stationary, thus causing the pinion 114 to rotate and to actuate the gear mechanism to move the blocks toward the car. During the operation, the differential acts to insure the application of uniform pressure against the car. lWhen engagement is effected, lthe weighted rack is lifted with the cradle.

Fig. 19 shows a vsimilar arrangement, wherein the rack 141 is arranged to be actuated by fluid pressure within a cylinder 145. In such case, the cylinder is mounted on a cradle and the fluid pressure, acting upon a piston at the'end of the rack, may be readily controlled to effect the Vdesired buffer block operation in each direction. Y

I claim:

1'. In a car dumper, the combination with aysupport having tracks thereon, said tracks being adapted to support a car, means carried by the support and shiftable laterally with reference thereto for engaging the side of the car, `a counterweight, a cable connected to the counterweight and a movable member operated by the cable vand engaging said means for'holding it in engagement with the side of the ycar during the dumping operation.

2. In acar dumper, thev combination with a cradle adapted to supporta car, a clamp carried by the cradleand adapted to engage the top of the car, a counterweight, a cable connected to the counterweight and adapted to engage the clamp for holding it against the car during the dumping operation, a buffer block movably. mounted on the cradle and means connected -to the cable for moving the buffer 'block into" engagement with the side ofthe car, andsupporting it during the dumping operation.

3. In a car dumper, the combination with a car support, of a clamp carriedv thereby, and

adapted -to engage the top of the car on the support, :a counterweight operativelyr connected'vwith the clamp to hold it in engagement with the car during the dumping operation, and a buffer carried by the support and normally disposed-'out of engagement with the car when the support is in the rest position, andmeans controlled by the counterweight for moving the buffer into engagement with the side ot the car during the initial movement of the dumping operation.

4. In a car dumper, vthe combination with a. cradle adapted to support a car, of a buier carried by the cradle, and normally held out of Contact with a car thereon, and a counterweight, a cable vattached to the counterweight, means operatively connected to the cable and buffer for moving -thebuer into engagement with one side ot the car during the initial movement of the dumping operation, and a stationary support coacting with said means to return the butter automatically to the normal p-osition during the final movement of the dumpingoperation.-

5. In a car dumper, the Vcombination with a car supporting cradle, of a clamp slidably mounted upon the cradle, a counterweight, a cable connected to the counterweight, a butter block, means operated by the cable and engaging the buer block tor moving the block into engagement with the side of a car on the cradle and for supporting it during the dumping operation and a stationary abutment adapted to engage said means for moving the block out of contact with the car near the end of the dumping operation.

6. In a car dumper, the combination with amovable car supporting cradle, of a butt'- er carried thereby, a cam adapted to engage the butter for moving it into engagement with the car during the dumping operation, a counterweight, and a cable connected to the counterweight, and to the cam for moving the cam into engagement with the butler, and

thereby to :torce the butler into engagement with a car on the cradle.

7. In a car dumper, the combination with a car supporting cradle, of a buer carried by the cradle and adapted to engage the side of a car on the cradle, a counterweight, a cable connected te th-e countervveight and adapted to move the buffer into engagement with the side ot the car during the dumping operation, a stationary abutment, a member pivoted on the cradle and adapted to engage the abutment, and means for connect-ing the member to the butler for withdrawing it from engagement with the car near the end of the dumping operation, said abutment member and means being adapted to oppose the counterweight, and thereby to govern the speed of the buer toward the side of the car during the dumping operation.

8. In a car dumper, the combination with a car supporting cradle, of a butter carried thereby and adapted to be moved with reterence thereto and into engagement with the side of a car on the cradle, a counterweight,

a cable connected'thereto, means connected Y carried by the cradle and movable with ref-er- 4ence thereto, a'bell crank pivotally mounted on the cradle, a counterweight, a flexible member connecting the counterweight to the lever, means connected to said member for moving the buffer. toward the car, an abutment adapt.

ed to be engaged by the bell crank for limiting the speed of the counterweighttoward the car, said abutmentv coacting with the `belt cranlrtowithdraw the buffer away from the car during the final period of the dumping operation. v l

l0. In a car .dumper, in combination with a cradle, of a buier slidably mounted thereon and adaptedto be moved into'engagement with the side ot a car on thecradle, a counterweight, a cable connected thereto, means connected to thev cable for moving the buer toward the car, a lever pivotally mounted on the cradle, and an abutment adaptedto be engaged by the lever during the downwardf movement ofthe cradle tor etecting movementot the lever with relation to the cradle, andmeans connecting the lever to-thebuler,

moves the buffer out of contact with the car.

11. In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle adapted to support a car thereon, a pair of butter blocks carried by the cradle and adapted to be moved laterally into engagement with the car, a counterweight, a

flexible member extending from the counterweight, and means coacting with said member to move the blocks toward the car, said means inclu-ding mechanism for -equalizing the presure of the bulers against the car.

l2. In a car dumper, in combination vwith a cradle adapted to support a car thereon, a clamp, a plurality of butter blocks arranged in pairs on Veach side of the clamp, a counterw'eight,a flexible member-leading from the counterweight, a cam block associated with each butter block, a bar connected to the Vtree end of said flexible member, and means operatively connecting the bar to each cam block, said means operating to equalize the pressure of the bulier blocks against the car. Y Y

13. In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle adapted to support a car thereon, a butter carried by the cradle and movable laterally in reference thereto, a counterweight, atlexible member leading therefrom,

a sheave on the cradle, said member extend- `r whereby vsuch relative motion of the lever' car,.cam means on the cradle for engaging the buffer, a counterweight, a flexible member leading therefrom and .being operativelyconf nected .to the buffer, whereby'thecounter- 'weight draws the butter downwardly, 'as the cradle is raised, until the buffer engages the side of the car, .and thereafter holds it against the car, whereby the butter, cradle and car move as a unit during the'dumping operation.

15. ln a car dumper, the combination with a car supporting cradle adapted to support a car thereon, a pair of butter blocks carried by the cradle and adapted to be moved laterally into engagement with a caron the cradle,

a pair of members movably mounted on the cradle and adapted-to engage the blocks, a

ysingle actuator, means for connecting the actuator to said members, and for equalizing the pressure Vot the members against the blocks.

16. In a car dumper, the combination with a car supporting cradle adapted to support a car thereon, of a pair 'of buii'er guideways a car supportingicradle of, a counterweight, a cable :connected thereto, a lever pivotally mounted upon the cradle,'a bul'er pivotally connected to one end of the lever, meansaconnecting the other end of the lever to thecable, whereby thecounterweight tends to forcey the bu'er laterally into engagement with a car on the cradle, a stationary abutment,Y and means connected to the bu'er for engaging the abutment near ther` end of lthe dumping operation, whereby the abutment acts against the counterweight' to movethe buffer out of engagement with the car. v

n In testimony whereof,-I hereunto aliixy my signature. Y g

ROBERT KALTENBACI-L;

mounted on the cradle, a butferjslidable lat- Y erally within each guideway',l a counterweight,

a cable connected to the counterweight, cam blocks slidable longitudinally ot and within the guideways andy adapted to engage the buffers, means for connecting the cable tofeach of the cam blocks, whereby the counterweight tends to move the blocks and thereby to torce the buffers laterally 'into engagement with the car, a stationary abutment, a f

bell crank lever, means connecting one end of the lever to the cable and means connecting the other end of the lever to the buii'ers, said lever being adapted'to engage the abutment and thereby to control the speed of movement of the buffers toward the car during the dumping operation, and to withdraw the 'buffers from the car at the end of the dumping operation.

17. In a car dumper, the combination with a supporting cradle of a cam block rigidly mounted thereon, a buffer block slidably vmounted on the cam block and movable laterally thereof, a counterweight, a cable con- 18. fIn a car dumper, the combinationl with Y 

